Overview
Background
Michele Sterling is a NHMRC Leadership Fellow (leadership level 2), Professor in the Recover Injury Research Centre, Program Lead of the Musculoskeletal Injury research program and Director of the NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Better Health Outcomes for Compensable Injury. She is a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist and a Fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. She is internationally recognised for her research on whiplash-associated disorders. Michele’s research focusses on the mechanisms underlying the development of chronic pain after injury, predictive algorithms for outcomes and developing effective interventions for musculoskeletal injury and pain. She has received over $50M in research funding from the NHMRC, MRFF, ARC and industry partners, including 7 NHMRC project grants, and 2 Centres of Research Excellence. Michele holds editorial roles with several leading journals and textbooks, including being a Section Editor of PAIN and co-editors of the 4th and 5th editions of the seminal physiotherapy textbook 'Grieve's Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy). Michele has published over 325 scientific works and has received numerous awards for her research including the Research Australia Research Translation award in 2023. Examples of recognition as a national and international leader in the field include:
2024- Secretary of the Executive Council - International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
2022-2024 Chair Scientific Program Committee World Pain Congress, Amsterdam 2024
2023-2027 NHMRC Leadership Fellow (Level 2) for research of road traffic injury.
2023 Research Australia Research Translation award
2016-2022 Council member International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP)
Availability
- Professor Michele Sterling is:
- Available for supervision
- Media expert
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Postgraduate Diploma, Curtin University of Technology
- Masters (Coursework), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy of Physiotherapy, The University of Queensland
Research impacts
Professor Sterling’s research program on the discovery of novel prognostic indicators and treatments to improve recovery led transformational change in clinical practice and compensation systems. Based on seminal research on the phenotyping of whiplash over many years, CI Sterling developed and tested the StressModex intervention for acute whiplash. StressModex is recommended by Australian Guidelines for management of Acute Whiplash (2024), is included in the physiotherapy curriculum at Australian universities and has been adapted for use internationally (e.g. Denmark). It has been taken up by insurance stakeholders (Suncorp, Allianz) resulting in improve health outcomes for injured people. To enhance translation of research, CI Sterling, in partnership with MAIC, SIRA and Allianz, co-led the establishment of MyWhiplashNavigator, a one-stop on-line resource for people with whiplash injury, training opportunities for health care providers and insurers. Sterling’s strong collaboration with key industry and government regulators in 5 states, peak professional bodies and consumers informed 2 NHMRC CRE’s [CIA] which have translated prognostic and RCT data into practice and policy via education (>2000 participants, >25 countries). CI Sterling’s research has improved management of musculoskeletal injury worldwide, cited in Clinical & Medico-legal Guidelines that are endorsed by > 10 international peak bodies and was used by the UK House of Commons Recommendations to avert escalating costs associated with fraudulent whiplash claims. Subsequently, the UK govt. established an on-line educational platform based on CI Sterling’s research to accredit medical examiners in evidence-based assessment.
Works
Search Professor Michele Sterling’s works on UQ eSpace
2025
Journal Article
How therapist effects shape pain-related outcome improvement in psychological treatments for chronic pain
Day, Melissa A., Ehde, Dawn M., Sterling, Michele and Jensen, Mark P. (2025). How therapist effects shape pain-related outcome improvement in psychological treatments for chronic pain. Current Opinion in Psychology, 62 101995, 101995. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2025.101995
2025
Journal Article
Leveraging value-based health principles to improve translation and impact of digital psychological interventions for people with chronic pain
Eather, Chloe-Emily, Sterling, Michele, Sullivan, Clair and Elphinston, Rachel A. (2025). Leveraging value-based health principles to improve translation and impact of digital psychological interventions for people with chronic pain. Pain, 166 (4), 755-758. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003441
2025
Journal Article
Co-Designing a Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Prescription Opioid–Related Harm Among People With Chronic Noncancer Pain: Qualitative Analysis of Patient Lived Experiences
Elphinston, Rachel A, Pager, Sue, Brown, Kelly, Sterling, Michele, Fatehi, Farhad, Gray, Paul, Hipper, Linda, Cahill, Lauren and Connor, Jason P. (2025). Co-Designing a Digital Brief Intervention to Reduce the Risk of Prescription Opioid–Related Harm Among People With Chronic Noncancer Pain: Qualitative Analysis of Patient Lived Experiences. JMIR Formative Research, 9 e57208, e57208-9. doi: 10.2196/57208
2024
Journal Article
Validity and reliability of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) in adults with chronic isolated extremity injuries
Butler, Prudence, Giummarra, Melita J., O’Leary, Shaun and Sterling, Michele (2024). Validity and reliability of the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ) in adults with chronic isolated extremity injuries. European Journal of Physiotherapy, 1-11. doi: 10.1080/21679169.2024.2437701
2024
Journal Article
Evaluation of the acceptability and feasibility of stress mitigation education and support delivered via telehealth for people after road traffic musculoskeletal/orthopedic injury
Sim, Alison, McNeilage, Amy G., Rebbeck, Trudy, Sterling, Michele, Nicholas, Michael, Donovan, Sarah, Giummarra, Melita J. and Ashton-James, Claire E. (2024). Evaluation of the acceptability and feasibility of stress mitigation education and support delivered via telehealth for people after road traffic musculoskeletal/orthopedic injury. Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation. doi: 10.1007/s10926-024-10258-z
2024
Journal Article
Introduction to the biennial review of pain
Sterling, Michele and Davis, Karen Deborah (2024). Introduction to the biennial review of pain. Pain, 165 (11S), S1-S2. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003437
2024
Journal Article
Patient acceptance of care of a novel care pathway for those at risk of poor outcomes from musculoskeletal pain: A mixed methods study
Beales, Darren, Boyle, Eileen, Fary, Robyn, Mikhailov, Anton, Saunders, Benjamin, Coates, Sonia, Evans, Kerrie, Simic, Milena, Sterling, Michele, Bennell, Kim and Rebbeck, Trudy (2024). Patient acceptance of care of a novel care pathway for those at risk of poor outcomes from musculoskeletal pain: A mixed methods study. Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, 74 103178, 103178. doi: 10.1016/j.msksp.2024.103178
2024
Journal Article
The influence of ‘labels’ for neck pain on recovery expectations following a motor vehicle crash: an online-randomised vignette-based experiment
Xie, Yanfei, Costa, Nathalia, Söderlund, Anne, Zadro, Joshua, Malmström, Eva-Maj, Grant, Genevieve, Jull, Gwendolen, Westergren, Hans, Kasch, Helge, MacDermid, Joy, Treleaven, Julia, Curatolo, Michele, Ravn, Sophie Lykkegaard, Andersen, Tonny, Rebbeck, Trudy and Sterling, Michele (2024). The influence of ‘labels’ for neck pain on recovery expectations following a motor vehicle crash: an online-randomised vignette-based experiment. Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy, 54 (11), 711-720. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2024.12590
2024
Journal Article
Trajectories of cold but not mechanical sensitivity correspond with disability trajectories after whiplash injury
Farrell, Scott F., Armfield, Nigel R., Kristjansson, Eythor, Niere, Ken, Christensen, Steffan Wittrup McPhee and Sterling, Michele (2024). Trajectories of cold but not mechanical sensitivity correspond with disability trajectories after whiplash injury. Pain 03461. doi: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003461
2024
Journal Article
Serum vitamin D and chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study of 349,221 adults in the UK
Xie, Yanfei, Farrell, Scott F, Armfield, Nigel and Sterling, Michele (2024). Serum vitamin D and chronic musculoskeletal pain: a cross-sectional study of 349,221 adults in the UK. The Journal of Pain, 25 (9) 104557, 1-13. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.104557
2024
Book Chapter
Whiplash-associated disorders
Sterling, Michele, Rebbeck, Trudy, Leaver, Andrew and Worsfold, Chris (2024). Whiplash-associated disorders. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 439-449) edited by Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy, Chad E. Cook and Michele Sterling. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00054-9
2024
Book Chapter
Introduction to the text
Falla, Deborah, Cook, Chad E., Lewis, Jeremy, McCarthy, Chris and Sterling, Michele (2024). Introduction to the text. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 2-3) edited by Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy, Chad E. Cook and Michele Sterling. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00001-X
2024
Book Chapter
Consideration of Cognitive and Behavioral Influences on Physiotherapy Practice
Sterling, Michele and Elphinston, Rachel A. (2024). Consideration of Cognitive and Behavioral Influences on Physiotherapy Practice. Grieve's modern musculoskeletal physiotherapy. (pp. 296-302) edited by Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy, Chad E. Cook and Michele Sterling. Amsterdam, Netherlands: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00040-9
2024
Book Chapter
Biological Contributors to Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability
Farrell, Scott F., deZoete, Rutger M.J., Klyne, David M., Schmid, Annina B., Polli, Andrea, Nijs, Jo and Sterling, Michele (2024). Biological Contributors to Musculoskeletal Pain and Disability. Grieve's Modern Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy. (pp. 22-35) edited by Deborah Falla, Jeremy Lewis, Christopher McCarthy, Chad E. Cook and Michele Sterling. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier. doi: 10.1016/B978-0-7020-8089-0.00005-7
2024
Journal Article
Contesting the BACPAP consortium's consensus – Authors' reply
Kosek, Eva, Nijs, Jo, Chiarotto, Alessandro, Cook, Chad, Danneels, Lieven A, Fernández-de-las-Peñas, César, Hodges, Paul W, Koes, Bart, Louw, Adriaan, Ostelo, Raymond, Scholten-Peeters, Gwendolyne G M, Sterling, Michele, Alkassabi, Othman, Alsobayel, Hana, Beales, Darren, Bilika, Paraskevi, Clark, Jacqui R, De Baets, Liesbet, Demoulin, Christophe, de Zoete, Rutger M J, Elma, Ömer, Gutke, Annelie, Hanafi, Rikard, Boendermaker, Sabina Hotz, Huysmans, Eva, Kapreli, Eleni, Lundberg, Mari, Malfliet, Anneleen, Filho, Ney Meziat ... George, Steven Z (2024). Contesting the BACPAP consortium's consensus – Authors' reply. The Lancet Rheumatology, 6 (7), e419-e420. doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(24)00130-9
2024
Journal Article
Pre-operative pain pressure threshold association with patient satisfaction following total knee arthroplasty
McAuliffe, Michael, Pillay, Tristan, Jaber, Khalid, Sterling, Michele and O'Leary, Shaun (2024). Pre-operative pain pressure threshold association with patient satisfaction following total knee arthroplasty. Journal of Orthopaedics, 52, 21-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2024.02.017
2024
Journal Article
Applying patient and health professional preferences as part of co-designing a new digital brief intervention to reduce risk of prescription opioid harm: a qualitative analysis
Elphinston, Rachel A., Pager, Sue, Fatehi, Farhad, Sterling, Michele, Brown, Kelly, Gray, Paul, Hipper, Linda, Cahill, Lauren, Ziadni, Maisa, Worthy, Peter and Connor, Jason P. (2024). Applying patient and health professional preferences as part of co-designing a new digital brief intervention to reduce risk of prescription opioid harm: a qualitative analysis. JMIR Formative Research. doi: 10.2196/57212
2024
Journal Article
C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with chronic pain independently of biopsychosocial factors
Farrell, Scott F., Armfield, Nigel R., Cabot, Peter J., Elphinston, Rachel A., Gray, Paul, Minhas, Gunjeet, Collyer, Martin R. and Sterling, Michele (2024). C-reactive protein (CRP) is associated with chronic pain independently of biopsychosocial factors. The Journal of Pain, 25 (2), 476-496. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.09.008
2024
Journal Article
Longitudinal changes and associations between quantitative sensory testing and psychological factors in whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analyses-based data synthesis
Bellosta-López, Pablo, Doménech-García, Víctor, Ortiz-Lucas, María, Lluch-Gibes, Enrique, Herrero, Pablo, Sterling, Michele and Christensen, Steffan W.M. (2024). Longitudinal changes and associations between quantitative sensory testing and psychological factors in whiplash-associated disorders: a systematic review and meta-analyses-based data synthesis. The Journal of Pain, 25 (1), 12-30. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.07.021
2024
Journal Article
Patient experiences of referral practices and primary care physiotherapy for chronic nonspecific low back pain
Boyle, Eileen M, Evans, Kerrie, Coates, Sonia, Fary, Robyn E, Bennell, Kim, Sterling, Michele, Rebbeck, Trudy and Beales, Darren J (2024). Patient experiences of referral practices and primary care physiotherapy for chronic nonspecific low back pain. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 40 (6), 1326-1342. doi: 10.1080/09593985.2022.2141599
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Michele Sterling is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Neurological factors underlying chronic pain after road traffic injury
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Scott Farrell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Early biopsychosocial intervention for people experiencing traumatic injuries
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shaun O'Leary, Dr Nigel Armfield
-
Doctor Philosophy
Multidimensional recovery after road traffic injury.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nigel Armfield
-
Doctor Philosophy
Psychologically informed physiotherapy for chronic pain after trauma.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rachel Elphinston
-
Doctor Philosophy
Early interventions to prevent chronic pain after road traffic injury
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Scott Farrell
-
Doctor Philosophy
Enhancing engagement in digital psychological interventions for patients with chronic non-cancer pain
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Rachel Elphinston
-
Doctor Philosophy
Quantifying the public health burden of road traffic injury.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nigel Armfield
Completed supervision
-
2024
Doctor Philosophy
The Effectiveness and Nature of Psychological Interventions Delivered by Physiotherapists for Musculoskeletal Conditions
Principal Advisor
-
2015
Doctor Philosophy
Whiplash Associated Disorders: A Prospective Investigation of the Effects of Cervical Medial Branch Radiofrequency Neurotomy on Sensory, Motor and Psychological Features
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gwendolen Jull
-
2014
Doctor Philosophy
Whiplash-associated disorders: a cross-cultural comparison between Australia and Singapore
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bill Vicenzino
-
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Somatosensory disturbances following whiplash injury: Relationship with signs and symptoms in both acute and chronic whiplash associated disorders (WAD)
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gwendolen Jull
-
2018
Master Philosophy
Are mechanical pain thresholds useful in defining symptoms of advanced knee osteoarthritis and predicting patient satisfaction following total knee replacement?
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Shaun O'Leary
-
2013
Doctor Philosophy
Towards a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying lateral epicondylalgia and its management
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Bill Vicenzino
-
2011
Doctor Philosophy
An Investigation of the Relationship between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Chronic Pain due to Whiplash Injury.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Justin Kenardy
-
2009
Doctor Philosophy
Headache in the elderly: cervical musculoskeletal, sensory and psychological features
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Gwendolen Jull
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Michele Sterling directly for media enquiries about:
- musculoskeletal pain
- phyiotherapy
- road traffic injury
- whiplash injury
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